William Hill Brown was born in Boston in 1765. Much of his personal history has been left unrecorded: only three examples of his handwriting remain. Two of these examples are simply inscriptions in books. The most telling of the three examples, however, was a letter that Brown wrote to a friend on April 29, 1784. The letter reveals that his appearance reflects that of an "Old Dr. Chauncy," suggesting a small, frail stature. Brown also reveals in his letter that he was victim of a debilitating illness which kept him indoors for approximately four months.

Brown also wrote the tragedy West Point Preserved, about the British spy, Major John André.

Brown died in North Carolina in 1793, aged 27.